LONG BEACH, CA – Dean Barker (NZL) has managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory once again, losing to an excellent team led by Taylor Canfield (USVI). Mr Barker sailed to an easy win in last week's Ficker Cup to qualify as a wild card entry for Con Cup, then handily won the round robin phase at Con Cup earlier this week. Barker & Co. then dispatched their semi-final opponent, Sam Gilmour (AUS), 3-1 to advance to the finals against Mr Canfield.

Dean had defeated Taylor in both of their matches in the rounds robin, so entered today's best-of-five final as the clear favorite.

Barker's team, along with tactician Terry Hutchinson (USA) representing New York Yacht Club's 2021 America's Cup team American Magic, was up 1-0 in finals against Mr Canfield and looked like they were cruising to an easy win when the tide turned. Canfield won three in a row, helped in part by a questionable umpire call in a port-starboard incident in what turned out to be the final race.